Hosea 5

1 “Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgement is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.

“Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O royal house! For this judgment is against you because you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.

2 The rebels are deep in slaughter, but I discipline all of them.

The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I will chastise them all.

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.

I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled.

4 Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God, for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know the LORD.

Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.

5 The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them.

6 They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD, but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.

They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.

7 They are unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.

They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.

8 “Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin!

Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!

9 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Amongst the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be.

Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.

10 The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.

11 Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgement, because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.

12 Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.

So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah.

13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to King Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.

When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

14 For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.

For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them.

15 I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”

Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”